Maximizing the view

This living room in an Egg Harbor, Wisconsin, house puts the focus on its lake view with a wall of windows and glass doors as well as a muted, natural palette inside. The family feels as if they're living outside whatever the season!

Cabin comfort

Knotty pine walls, 18-foot ceilings and exposed rafters frame the backdrop for casual, comfortable furnishings at this Lake Michigan cabin. Above the fireplace, an industrial pulley raises the art to reveal a TV. See more photos of this beachfront hideaway.

Seeing the light

A Saint Paul couple modernized their 1913 Craftsman home by lightening its surfaces and opening its spaces. They replaced rear windows with French doors in the living room, improving backyard views and access. They also plastered a brick fireplace and added a light, sleek 9-inch-deep plywood mantel.

Vintage appeal

Vintage finds highlight this room. The old door leaning against the wall is one of the Chicago-area homeowner's favorite pieces because its back is an awesome blue color; depending on the time of year, the door can be flipped for a new look. An antique chandelier offers a one-of-a-kind look, too.

Relaxed vibe

The patterned carpet in this Indiana living room beautifully hides dirt and spills. “The life in this house doesn’t come from busy patterned fabrics or lots of color,” the homeowner explains. “It comes from people, which is why the only statement the decor needs to make is—relax!”

Balanced mood

The living room in this Michigan home looks both inviting and tailored. To achieve a balance, traditional-style furnishings sport casual linens and serene colors—neutrals with greens and blues pulled from outside. Wood panels, instead of drywall, reflect the aesthetic, as does the white-stained oak flooring. Sunlight floods the room through skylights and clerestory windows, making the cavernous space feel simply cozy.

Mix modern and vintage

Combine furnishings from different periods, such as French antiques with contemporary pieces, for collected-over-time interest. "You never want your furniture to look like it arrived in one day," says St. Louis designer Amie Corley.

Inspired by a Parisian photo shoot in Vogue, Amie painted her living room walls two shades of aqua.

Focal fireplace

It is only natural that at night a fire in this massive stone fireplace in this Lake Michigan cottage would be the focal point. But pale walls and a cupola with working windows above keep the focus on the fireplace even during daylight.

Streamlined contemporary

Bold color impact

Dark brown walls provide a dramatic backdrop for this sophisticated room with its mix of intense colors. Focal points include an abstract painting, vintage rug and a family heirloom wing-back reupholstered in red.